Transcript life and death of a high mass star 2

LIFE AND DEATH OF A
HIGH MASS STAR
THE LIFE OF ALL STARS
FOLLOWS A SPECIFIC CYCLE
 ALL STARS BEGIN WHEN GAS AND DUST
ARE PULLED TOGETHER BY GRAVITY.
 STARS ARE AT THEIR “FULL LIFE” WHEN
THEY ARE IN THE MAIN SEQUENCE STAGE.
 AFTER THAT, THEY LOSE THEIR MASS AND
HEAT AND BEGIN TO DIE.
 THIS PROCESS TAKES BILLIONS AND
BILLIONS OF YEARS.
NEBULA
Gravity pulls dust and gases
together
PROTOSTAR
NUCLEAR FUSION OF ATOMS OCCURS
CAUSING LIGHT AND HEAT TO FORM
MAIN SEQUENCE STAR
THE BRIGHTEST LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR
THIS IS RIGEL – ONE OF THE
BRIGHTEST STARS IN SPACE
RED SUPERGIANT
• As hydrogen explodes
releasing light and heat,
helium forms.
• Helium is lighter and
floats outward.,
expanding the size of
the star.
• Since there is less
hydrogen exploding, the
star becomes cooler and
turns red and only
Carbon is left in the
Core.
SUPERNOVA
THE RED SUPERGIANT EXPLODES SUDDENLY
FROM THE REMAINING HYDROGEN
• WHEN THE
SUPERGIANT IS
MOSTLY HELIUM
IT EXPANDS
OUTWARD.
• WITH VERY
LITTLE
HYDROGEN
REMAINING, IT
EXPLODES
SUDDENLY.
• THREE OBJECTS
CAN FORM FROM
THIS EXPLOSION.
THREE OBJECTS CAN FORM FROM
A SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION
NEW NEBULA FROM THE GAS
AND DUST
NEUTRON STAR – THE SIZE OF A
CITY, BUT LOTS OF GRAVITY
THE THIRD OBJECT THAT CAN FORM IS
A BLACK HOLE
• IT IS NOT A HOLE
IN SPACE
• IT IS A DEAD STAR
THAT NO
LONGER GLOWS
OR GIVES OFF
HEAT
• IT HAS SO MUCH
GRAVITY THAT IT
WILL PULL ANY
GAS, DUST, OR
STAR WITH LESS
GRAVITY INTO IT.
• IT WILL ALSO
PULL LIGHT
INSIDE OF IT.
BLACK HOLES
• SINCE BLACK
HOLES GIVE
OFF NO LIGHT,
THEY CAN ONLY
BE DETECTED
BY
X-RAYS!
• THE CLOSEST
ONE TO EARTH
IS 1600 LIGHT
YEARS AWAY,
BUT IS IN OUR
MILKY WAY
GALAXY.
THAT WAS FARRRR OUT!!!!